End-to-end logistics provider and ship agency Carpenters Shipping is exploring partnerships with recycling organisations to improve sorting systems before collection; and simultaneously build public awareness and community initiatives.
Carpenters Shipping general manager Sanjeeva Abeygoonewardena said with an estimated two billion tonnes of waste generated globally each year, the message was clear that waste was not just an environmental issue but a reflection of the way the world was living.
And for an island nation like Fiji, he said the responsibility was even greater because “what we throw away, it comes back to our land, our oceans and our future”. He said daily collections in the Suva area ranged from 120 tonnes to 130 tonnes, with a further 35-40 tonnes collected in the Western Division.
“The largest amounts of waste are generated during the weekends, yet landfill operations do not always align with this pattern,” Mr Abeygoonewardena said in a statement.
“Extended operating hours would greatly assist waste management efforts and help prevent overflow and illegal dumping.”
Mr Abeygoonewardena cited figurers from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics that reported Fiji’s waste generation profile.
According to the report, Fiji generated 199,263 tonnes of waste in 2024 – an increase of 8875 tonnes compared to the previous year.
Of that total, the FBoS reported that 72.4 per cent was sent to landfills, 27.4 per cent was incinerated and only 0.2 per cent was recycled. “These figures show that we cannot rely on disposal alone,” Mr Abeygoonewardena. “We must focus on reducing waste in the first place, separating recyclable materials, and supporting circular solutions that keep resources in use for longer.
“The solution starts with each of us. We are calling on all Fijians — households, businesses and communities — to take action now by reducing waste, separating recyclables, and making more sustainable choices every day. Together, we can turn the tide and protect our land, our oceans and our future.”
Carpenters Shipping – a major commercial waste disposal contractor in the country – employs more than 40 staff across its Suva and Lautoka operations, and includes drivers, mechanics, welding teams and administrative personnel who support daily waste collection and disposal services.
The collection routes in Suva extend from the city through to Sigatoka and Tailevu, while the Lautoka branch services Lautoka and Nadi.
